Tag: releases

In 2017 things got pretty interesting in the Japanese scene. The Daydream events took off this year, drawing some more of the focus away from Tokyo and further establishing Kyoto as Japanese shoegaze’s “second city”. Elsewhere, Nagoya’s local scene got a big bump thanks in large part to releases from local bands and the emergence of some new, young bands. There were also some long-awaited releases, a shoegaze idol group that blew everyone’s minds, and a couple of tragic break ups. It was a busy year with a few intriguing storylines.

In 2017 things got pretty interesting in the Japanese scene. The Daydream events took off this year, drawing some more of the focus away from Tokyo and further establishing Kyoto as Japanese shoegaze’s “second city”. Elsewhere, Nagoya’s local scene got a big bump thanks in large part to releases from local bands and the emergence of some new, young bands. There were also some long-awaited releases, a shoegaze idol group that blew everyone’s minds, and a couple of tragic break ups. It was a busy year with a few intriguing storylines.

Release-wise, there was still the “not enough full length releases and too many EPs” problem, but it was more manageable. The bigger issue this year was the closeness of the contenders. At least for the LP and EP lists, the top spots were pretty obvious in my mind. Below that I did a lot of shuffling throughout the year. So, as is usually the case, I could very easily change this list around in a week or so.

As is the case everywhere there will be some seemingly notable omissions on this list, but there’s a good reason for them. The most obvious one would be Plant Cell, who re-released Flowergaze? in 2017. As it’s just a re-worked version of a 2016 album, I left it off this year’s list. Then there are bands like Apple Light and Crunch who both released really good music this year (the new Apple Light is seriously so good), but neither falls in the blurry realm of shoegaze or dream pop, even at its blurriest. Cairophenomenons, Amsterdamned, Kill My 27, Acidclank, and Looprider all released good stuff this year that would have qualified on their own but ultimately didn’t feel right in this list.

With that out of the way, here are my favorite releases of 2017:

★ ☆ ★ BEST SINGLE ★ ☆ ★

“NEO TOKYO” BY YOUTHMEMORY

At first listen, Neo Tokyo sounds like a pretty big departure from youthmemory’s previous material. This is true in the feel of the music with the usual bouncy rhythm and jangly guitar backdrop replaced by drum machine beats and dense synth pads. However, the Tokyo band’s M.O. of crafting danceable, lush, dreamy pop music remains unchanged. There’s something cold and even a bit gloomy about this release, but it was a great change of pace without ever straying from what had made youthmemory a really enjoyable band. (Bandcamp)

If this list took live performances into account, Fog Park would be right at the top. The Saitama-based newcomers put out two demo singles in 2017 – “cigarette punch” in January and then “sleeping cat” in May. While neither of the demos demonstrates how brutally loud these guys are capable of being, the songs are still really good. I’m looking forward to their recently announced debut mini album “beautiful blood”, that was released on 1/20. (Currently only available at shows)

The Kansai region consistently produces some of the country’s best dream pop acts, and the best of the bunch in 2017 was Mariana in our Heads. The five-piece put out a single an an EP this year, and while the latter received some consideration before ultimately falling to some strong competition, their “Anemone/Yarn” 7-inch was among my favorite singles. While I generally favor harder-hitting, noisy chaos, I do occasionally have a soft spot for really warm synth-laden dream pop. 2017 was a good year for that, and Mariana in our Heads nailed it. (Flake Records)

The most bittersweet entry on this whole list belongs to Ether Feels, whose “moonshine” single would be the last material they released before announcing all of the members would be going their separate ways. The track actually starts off uncharacteristically peppy before transitioning into the sad but catchy melancholic pop sound that Ether Feels spent years doing so well. (Bandcamp)

I have mixed feelings about Japan’s hottest shoegaze band, ・・・・・・・・・(pronounced “dots”). The idol group’s surge in popularity is probably due more to their live gimmicks and cute-but-edgy idol shtick, but their debut single “CD” features some legitimately good music – particulary “Slide” which was written by For Tracy Hyde’s Natsu-bot. I remain skeptical of “alt-idol” acts, but credit where credit is due here. (Amazon)

★ ☆ ★ BEST EP ★ ☆ ★

“INTO THE DREAM” BY SOFTSURF

With all due respect to the rest of the bands who released EPs this year, this one was never going to be close. It’s been fun watching softsurf’s rise over the last couple years, and “Into the Dream” helped solidify their status as the best shoegaze band going in Japan right now. I’ve beaten the Slowdive/Pastel Blue comp into the ground to this point, but it’s pretty remarkable since that sound is so rare here. With their first proper release and a three-city tour in support of it, Softsurf had an incredible year which saw them establish themselves within the national shoegaze scene. And you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better live band in that scene. (Amazon)

Though Softsurf was in a league of its own in 2017, there were still some really good EP releases in the next tier. 17 Years Old And The Berlin Wall put out their second EP Reflect last year, following up their excellent 2015 debut. 17Berlin’s sound pretty much reflects the popular sound in the Japanese shoegaze scene, with male-female vocal harmonies and poppy guitar melodies. What has set them apart, besides the fact that their songs are really catchy, is the fact that hit a bit harder they’re willing to muddy it up a bit and drown some of the sweetness in guitar noise. (Flake Records)

My 2017 Rookie of the Year award goes to Kyoto-based newcomers Nurse, who released their debut EP ODD. Nurse sort of spawned from the very short-lived Hakusen Shikatsu, who released a couple impressive demo tracks earlier in the year and then split. But the new project is even better and way way noisier. Hopefully these guys stick around for a bit. (Bandcamp)

Chiba’s plant cell may not have been qualified for the album of the year award, but they put out two really good EPs in 2017. The first, titled Queen of the Nebula – Fairy Lurking In the Thundercloud, was a thematic departure from their usual nature/spirit-based content, but featured their usual dense, dreamy sound. The second, Cyan, was a collection of new versions of songs previously released on CDs or as singles on Bandcamp. To be clear, the rebuild version of Flowergaze? wasn’t included in the list because it was just a modified version of a previously released album. Cyan, on the other hand, was recorded from scratch and marked plant cell’s first recording as a full band. The result isn’t really all that different, but the live drums add a bit of warmth to some familiar tracks. For a band that’s put out some of the same tracks more than a couple times now, plant cell always manages to keep things interesting. (Disk Union)

Perhaps better known as half of Hachioji-based alternative band The Weddings, singer-songwriter, kano, has been writing some seriously good dream pop tunes over the last 2 years. Her second EP, Shochuu, is short and sweet, including three whimsical, feel-good tracks with some really pretty textures woven along with gentle, breathy vocals. The release was fairly low-key, but the release really hits the spot and rose to the top of a very deep list of 2017 EPs. (File-Under Records)

★ ☆ ★ BEST ALBUM ★ ☆ ★

“HE(R)ART” BY FOR TRACY HYDE

For Tracy Hyde outdid themselves and delivered the most enjoyable album of 2017. While most bands are putting out singles and EPs, the Tokyo-based dreamy indie pop/shoegaze outfit released an incredibly well-written 17-track album (16 if you don’t want to include the intro) that draws on western indie pop influence while conjuring youthful imagery of life in Tokyo. That imagery is key, as He(r)art is structured like a film, down to the movie poster album cover and “Opening Logo”. It’s a nostalgic, playful, and emotional walk through a massive city and impactful relationships made there. While He(r)art is an extremely cohesive album that is best consumed as presented from start to finish, the individual tracks stand well on their own as well. “Leica Daydream”, “Houbutsusen”, and “Teen Flick” are among my personal favorites, while “Ghost Town Polaroids” might be my favorite track of the year. There are some strong contenders below, but For Tracy Hyde owned 2017. (Amazon)

There’s not much to say about Shelling‘s latest album, Waiting for Mint Shower!! The Tokyo-based duo gave us another gorgeous album based on the simple-but-effective formula of blanketing everything in a cascade of reverb-soaked guitars, warm synths, and Aya’s gentle, breathy vocals. The way the tracks subtly evolve over the repetitive beats and lulling bass lines is hypnotic. But you’ve heard all this before. (Amazon)

Taffy is an interesting inclusion, because I almost have to remind myself that they’re a Japanese band. More appreciated overseas than in their home country – which is crazy for a band of their quality – Taffy occasionally emerges in the Tokyo scene as they did in 2017 following the release of their Nyctophilia album. Taffy pushes guitar texture to the foreground, making the deeper lying melodies more subtle and the overall tone of the tracks harsher. The result is a much different album than most of the releases you find on these lists. (Amazon)

One of the biggest surprises of the year was the announcement from Nagoya’s Tokenai Namae that they’d be returning from their fairly lengthy hiatus with a new album. On Seifuku Kanro Kurabu the kayo-pop shoegaze band stayed true to their sound with a cute but chaotic blend of bubbly vocals, bouncy synths, crunchy bass, and ear-blasting guitars. It’s pacier than the first, and everything below the synth leads feels like it’s been bumped in the mix, making things sound a bit messier. A really solid release, which is remarkable considering the band was inactive for the better part of 2017. (File-Under Records)

There are two albums dueling it out for the fifth spot on this best albums list, both of which were fairly long-awaited releases. Cruyff in the Bedroom‘s first full-length album in almost 5 years, Hate Me, was probably the most highly-anticipated Japanese shoegaze release coming into 2017. Caucus‘ first in four years, Sound of the Air, came later in the year and was fairly low-key in comparison. Hate Me had higher highs with a few bangers including HATE and my personal favorite Laurelei, but got a bit too clean and rock n roll at times. Caucus’ record had its own hot track in lead single, “What Have You Done”, but the album was more consistent start to finish, giving it the nod. Caucus changes pace well on the album, going from fuzzy pop tunes to slower, more textural tracks like the almost 9-minute “Circles”. Overall it was a more interesting listening experience. (Caucus on Amazon) (Cruyff in the Bedroom on Amazon)

There was a lot of new shoegaze and dream pop coming out of Japan in 2016, and , even more so than in previous years, album releases were way outnumbered by EPs, singles, and mini albums. As a result I was faced with a couple of problems when putting together my annual “best of the year” list. The first is that there weren’t ten full-length releases that qualified.

There was a lot of new shoegaze and dream pop coming out of Japan in 2016, and , even more so than in previous years, album releases were way outnumbered by EPs, singles, and mini albums. As a result I was faced with a couple of problems when putting together my annual “best of the year” list. The first is that there weren’t ten full-length releases that qualified. Rather than making a numbered list this time around, I’ve decided to just name my favorite single, EP/mini-album, and album of the year, and then name a few honorable mentions for each category.

It’s a completely different feel from what I’ve put together the last couple years, but it serves the same purpose. Enjoy, discuss, buy some music.

Note: I’d like to preface this whole list by saying that I’m aware of the new releases from Kinoko Teikoku, My Dead Ishikawa, Qujaku, and others, and I really liked a bunch of them. Defining genres is tricky, but I decided not to mess with an already blurry line and include the releases that I felt qualified. The aforementioned did not.

★ ☆ ★ Best Single ★ ☆ ★

“Planet Heaven/Perfect Lies” by Juvenile Juvenile

It’s no secret that Juvenile Juvenile is one of my favorite bands in Japan. Their “Our Great Escape” album topped my 2014 list, and the band came back strong with its first recorded material in 2 years. The single was produced by The Bilinda Butcher’ Michal Palmer, and further solidified their status as the finest dream pop band in Japan. It’s also worth noting that Juvenile Juvenile also submitted a really good cover of “I Wish I Was Skinny” for The Blog That Celebrates Itself’s Boo Radleys tribute comp this year.

This was a pretty clear cut winner, but there was some quality in the next group of singles released, headed by Nagoya shoegaze newcomers Softsurf. Their “Blue Swirl/Beautiful Day” single was a really solid debut. If I was doing a “liver performances of the year” list, they’d be right at the top along with Juvenile Juvenile for their performances at Daydream Nagoya.

Saitama’s Collapse was another newcomer to the Japanese shoegaze scene, and they put out a couple of releases in 2016, including their super-gazey “Curse/Drop” single. More on them later.

Tokyo’s Youthmemory put out perhaps their catchiest track yet on the spring 2016 “April Kisses” release. One of the more underrated bands in Japan walking the line between shoegaze and jangly indie pop.

Yukino Chaos – a band that’s established itself as a mainstay of the Japanese shoegaze scene, and one of the best young alternative rock acts in Japan – had a busy 2016 that kicked off with the release of its “Hope for the Future” single. Despite a really positive 2016, the band has unfortunately announced it will be on an indefinite hiatus.

★ ☆ ★ Best EP ★ ☆ ★

“Night Falls” by Magic Love

At this moment, there may not be a better shoegaze band in Japan than Magic Love. The Tokyo band left us wanting more with its 2014 “Dawn” E.P., and after a couple years they delivered. On Night Falls, the band showed that they can deliver big walls of sound and more chilled out dream pop, switching back and forth between male and female vocals flawlessly. “Midnight Baby” has gotten all the love, but “Ghost Novice” was one of the best tracks of the year.

This one wasn’t as easy to pick, due in large part to the fact that there was so much quality released in EP format this year. One of the pleasant surprises was that some of the best EP releases of the year were put out by brand new bands. Collapse made the best singles of the year list, and they also appear on the EP list for their self-titled EP, which was released in February. The Saitama band, not unlike a number of newcomers to the Japanese shoegaze scene, doesn’t shy away from big wall-ish guitars, citing metal among its genre influences.

Scale is another new band that has made the best EP list, but it’s important to note that since the release of its debut EP “Hidden Blue”, the band has changed its name to Waterblink. A throwback to the early 2000s shoegaze scene, Scale goes in hard – its founding member also plays in post punk hardcore band Deviation – but also balances things out with some catchy melodies.

Shiga’s Yuragi turned a lot of heads with the release of their debut EP “Bedside” earlier in the year. Their “Nightlife” EP, which made it in right at the end of 2016, was a massive next step. The band’s second EP had some of the same pop appeal of the first, but also ventured off in a bit more of a darker, more exploratory direction.

One band that’s remained a mystery to me over the last couple years is Sapporo, Hokkaido shoegaze outfit Edy Two Arc (formerly known simply as Edy). Confined primarily to their hometown and Koenji’s HIGH venue, it’s been difficult to access the band from here in Nagoya, but that changed on Christmas Day 2016 with the release of their debut EP “Hide Intention”. Released via Only Feedback Records, the EP boasts a perfect balance of blaring, fuzzed out guitars and beautiful, subtle vocals.

★ ☆ ★ Best Album ★ ☆ ★

“Blood Music” by The Florist

Just like Juvenile Juvenile and Magic Love, 2016 saw The Florist release its first material in two years. The band’s 2014 debut featured a couple of killer singles, but Blood Music is start to finish a more complete album. In tracks like “Marigold” and “Ghosts” – my personal favorite off the record – Blood Music boasts its own signature tracks, and those weren’t even the album’s singles. A very emotional eleven-track ride with some excellent guitar work and gorgeous tones.

Picking the best album of the year was tough, as there were three that I felt strongly qualified. The debut full length effort from Tokyo-based indie/dream pop outfit For Tracy Hyde was right there at the top. Film Bleu is the culmination of the band’s hard work and development since it’s inception in 2012. Featuring a number of tracks previously released on EPs and as demos, Film Bleu showcases some seriously good songwriting in the band’s signature sweet pop style. “After” is a song of the year candidate.

Veterans of the Japanese shoegaze scene, and one of the best around, Osaka’s Ether Feels released a Greatest Hits album in 2016. The nine-track record consists of two previously released EPs and three newly recorded songs, including a new version of fan-favorite “Annabelle”. The melancholy shoegazers continue to pump out heart breaking, nostalgic tunes, with “She’s Wanderlust” highlighting the newest batch of music. Toward the end of the year, Ether Feels also collaborated on a split EP with Yukino Chaos.

Last year, Plant Cell released a lot of quality tracks, but did so one track at a time and thus didn’t really have any material to qualify for a list of best EPs or albums. This year, however, the band released a couple of demo EPs as well as a full album titled Flowergaze?, so their inclusion this time around is a no-brainer. Some of the more beautiful shoegaze you’ll find, Plant Cell’s strength is the ability to weave subtle melodies through dreamy layers of synths and guitars. “Snow and Luculia” is the recommended track off this one.

2015 saw a ridiculous number of releases, making these lists more difficult than in years past. As is often the case, there were a lot more EPs put out in 2015 so narrowing them all down to the ten best was tough and meant omitting some worthy bands…

2015 saw a ridiculous number of releases, making these lists more difficult than in years past. As is often the case, there were a lot more EPs put out in 2015 so narrowing them all down to the ten best was tough and meant omitting some worthy bands – in particular Wintermute, Group2, haguki, and Thru The Flowers artists Boyfriend’s Dead and Honey Mustard Sauce.

The best albums list was also a bit difficult, and while Xinlisupreme and Looprider put out a couple of my favorite albums of the year, in keeping with the “shoegaze albums” theme I decided to leave them off (though I’d argue that “Satellite” from Looprider’s My Electric Fantasy was among the best shoegaze tracks in 2015).

I did a lot of swapping of the orders of these lists, and this is where I finally settled, though I could easily change things around and still be happy. All of the links below will lead you to digital and/or physical purchase options (where applicable), and all of the shops that sell physical versions do ship internationally so if you dig what you hear I encourage you to grab a copy for yourself.

Anyway, without further ado, here are my favorite Japanese shoegaze releases of 2015:

The EPs

10. The Skateboard Kids – Spiritus (Ollie)

These guys burst onto the Nagoya scene this year with the release of their first EP, Spiritus, and have continued to blow away audiences with a live show so tight and dynamic it’s hard to believe that they’re so young. Spiritus is four tracks of well-written, well-executed, melodic pop music wrapped in atmospheric guitars, and topped with breathy vocals. “Somewhere” is my favorite track on the EP, but the CD’s closer “Saihate” is massive when performed live. Skateboard Kids is one to keep an eye on in the future. (buy it here)

9. Whisper Voice Riot – Before The Morning Cleaves Our Night

From one impressive young band to another, Osaka teenage four-piece Whisper Voice Riot was one of the bands on my watch list going into this year. They put out a couple nice tracks toward the end of last year that got them noticed and subsequently booked outside their hometown, and ended up having a very eventful 2015. Another young band whose songwriting ability is beyond their years, Whisper Voice Riot joined forces with fellow Osaka musician, Post Modern Team’s Kishida-san, who produced their debut EP Before The Morning Cleaves Our Night. The EP is a really nice blend of shoegaze and indie pop, ranging from the danceable, foot-tapping “LET’S DANCE AND SINK DOWN” to the slower, hazier guitar-deluge that is “Stand on the Moon”. (buy it here)

8. Tenkiame – So Sad About Us

One of the most fun bands around right now, Tenkiame just play music that they like. You’ll hear a huge Art-School influence in their sound, and that’s simply because they want to sound like Art-School. The band, which is something of a Tokyo indie-rock supergroup, formed up earlier this year and hit the ground running, putting out demos seemingly within days and then the debut EP, So Sad About Us. There’s not a whole lot to break down musically on the album other than the fact that it’s straightforward, fun, noisy, and vocal lines like the one in the chorus of “Candy” will stick to your brain like a parasitic Riki Kinoshita (in a good way). (buy it here)

7. me in grasshopper – New Saturday e.p.

As one of the longstanding representatives of the Nagoya shoegaze scene, it’s on me in grasshopper’s shoulders to represent the city’s local scene well, and they did just that with their most recent EP New Saturday. While “Himawari” is their signature track, their sweet, warm brand of shoegaze is really well represented in my favorite song on the EP, “Extra”. There’s a sadness to the track that reminds me a bit of Ether Feels, and the male-female vocal harmonies are perfect. On the other side of their sound spectrum are some cute pop tracks. All-in-all it’s a lighter-hearted, but nevertheless unique and addictive style of shoegaze. (buy here)

6. Ether Feels – Veils of Brightness

I’ve always been pretty outspoken about my love of Osaka’s Ether Feels. I was a bit curious about the new EP, wondering how the addition of female vocals might effect their sound as I really thought previously full-time frontman Tomo’s voice worked perfectly with their nostalgic, melancholy brand of shoegaze. Newcomer to the band, Yoshino, adds a really cool new element to Ether Feels’ already deep sound, particularly on the EP’s opener “Lightwave”. They don’t employ the “twin vocals” that are so common in Japanese shoegaze, but use the male and female vocals to compliment each other trading back and forth and harmonizing really well without disturbing the distinctly ‘Ether Feels’ vibe to their sound. (buy it here)

5. cruyff in the bedroom – Laurelei (Only Feedback)

The proclaimed “Japanese King of Shoegazer” put out two four-track EPs this year, the first of which earned a spot on this list. The title track is an absolutely immense shoegaze track, with a thick, dreamy build up to a huge, swirling finale. The next song is a hook-y change of pace titled “She is a Low”, and the second half of the EP features a remix of each – one by fellow Tokyo shoegazers broken little sister and the other by Clubbers. It is classic cruyff in the bedroom, who demonstrated why they are arguably the most noticeable and highly-regarded Japanese shoegaze band around.

4. Whhhy!!!!! – 1st EP

I didn’t see this release coming this past spring, but I was really impressed with Whhhy!!!!!’s 1st EP (appropriately titled 1st EP) when I finally got around to hearing it. The 5-piece Tokyo-based band draw on genre icons My Bloody Valentine and Pale Saints while channeling a bit of Supercar, particularly on the opening track. There’s some very clear Koji-Miki vocal influence in there as well. While there are no real weak points on the whole EP, the first 3 tracks are the strongest, with “Mouichido” and “Meteor” being personal highlights. (buy it here)

3. Yukino Chaos – Everything Means Nothing To Me

Another band that was on my watch list at the start of 2015, Yukino Chaos came on strong this year with an impressive showing at the January Total Feedback event and released their demo EP Everything Means Nothing To Me in March. My only knock on this EP is that it’s only three songs, but as far as demo EPs go this is as good as it gets – the songwriting is fantastic and the sound quality is without any major flaws. The fact that these guys are just getting started is really exciting. Good news: they’ve got some more new music coming out in early 2016.

2. 17 Years Old and the Berlin Wall – Aspect

I was really surprised by how good this mini-album from 17 Berlin was, thanks in large part to a pretty noticeable step up in production. The result was a much cleaner and more powerful version of their “sparkly shoegaze pop” sound. Just when you think that 17 Berlin is holding it all back in favor of a lighter, poppier sound they let loose on the CD’s middle portion – a welcome change from their previously released material. The transition from mediocre demos to high level releases is a theme at the top of this EP list, and a trend that I hope to see continue across the board in the Japanese shoegaze scene. (buy it here)

1. Cattle – Somehow Hear Songs (ZERO COOL/Jigsaw)

As difficult as this list was to put together, figuring out the best EP of 2015 was probably the easiest decision to make. I had it penciled in as such since its release in early July, and it staved off a flurry of stiff competition to stay at the top. Cattle sort of came out of nowhere with this release. It wasn’t that their sound wasn’t already familiar, as they’d been hanging around in the Japanese shoegaze scene for a while, but with the help of producer Makoto Gomi they quickly went from releasing catchy, if unspectacular, demos to putting out a seriously impressive, brutally loud but melodically sweet EP. It was enough to propel Cattle from a middle-of-the-lineup Total Feedback slot in January to a supporting slot on the Pains of Being Pure at Heart’s Japan tour in November, and right to the forefront of the new wave of impressive shoegaze bands in Japan. (buy it here)

The Albums

10. Gunkei Nakashima – Jyuu-gatsu

Gunkei Nakashima is a bit of a mystery, but this year they’ve put out a ton of music including an EP, a bunch of individually released songs, and this hard-hitting shoegaze-infused record 13-track album. The guitars on Jyuu-gatsu are brutal and unrelenting right off the bat. Surprisingly the album is better with the use of vocaloid than without, thanks to the blanket of guitar noise that keeps the synthesized vocals at a perfect level in the mix. The album plays like a home studio demo, but there’s a nice depth to Gunkei Nakashima’s sound and some simple but creative arranging of parts that is really pleasant. (free download here)

Over the last couple of years, arguably no one has done a better job of showcasing the newcomers to the Japanese shoegaze scene than Kiiro Records. Their FOREVER SHOEGAZE comps have been much talked about in shoegaze circles both in Japan and overseas, and the netlabel’s free digital release policy has attracted a large audience and brought attention to some of Japan’s hidden musical treasures. This year Kiiro released a Japan Shoegazer Festival exclusive CD-R, and it might be their best comp to date with songs from the likes of Cattle, Youthmemory, Group2, AOQ, Yukino Chaos, and more. Unfortunately the CD-R was a very limited release, but Kiiro has made it available for stream on their Bandcamp page. If you’ve got $1,000USD lying around and are feeling especially charitable you can download it as well.

8. Yudachi – Yoru no Fune ha Shiroku Oritatamarete (indienative)

This could very well be the prettiest album on the list. Yudachi are masters at creating big billowy guitar textures and topping them with whimsical, breathy vocals. The Tokyo band’s newest release is more of their ultra-mellow and dreamy brand of music, with “空洞” being my favorite track. It’s one of those “put on headphones and close your eyes” albums that you can really get lost in. Probably not the best album to listen to on the train, though (as I can personally attest). (buy it here)

This is one of those albums where you know what you’re going to get, you’re not surprised by any of it, and it’s really good. Japanese shoegaze mainstays My Dead Girlfriend did what they’ve always done on hades, with uptempo guitar-slathered pop tunes and super catchy vocal melodies. The synths are maybe a bit more prominent on this album as a whole than on their previous works, but the familiar My Dead Girlfriend vibe remains in tact on what can best be described as a really fun and very tight record. (buy it here)

6. Acidclank – Inner

While I admittedly know next to nothing about Acidclank, I do know that the Osaka outfit’s 2015 album Inner went largely under the radar, and I have no idea how. More of an exploration of 90s British indie music than a pure shoegaze band, Acidclank draws on a number of famous artists to put together an album that is heavily influenced but never a shameless copy. After a distinctly shoegaze opening, Acidclank floats wafting layers of guitars over a range of grooves, mellowed out psych, and catchy pop tunes. Easily the most underrated album of the year. (free download here)

5. Tokenai Namae – Time Machine ga Kowareru Mae ni (SODA ROOM)

Nagoya’s most well-known shoegaze band put out their debut full length album in 2015 and did not disappoint. The kayou-shoegazers’ release, which included all-new material, was a significant step up from their previously released EPs. A point of contention about the band has been how high in the mix the bubbly synth leads have sat, and on Time Machine ga Kowareru Mae ni the balance between their essential pop element and the roaring shoegaze guitars is just right. I’d been looking forward to the album, and it exceeded all of my expectations. My personal favorite track “少女の官能基” is a playful, guitar-drenched pop tune that pretty much sums up why Tokenai Namae’s sound is so highly regarded. Also that fuzzy bass tone is so good. (buy it here)

4. The Piqnic – ZyouK (So I Buried)

The Piqnic refer to themselves as a dark shoegaze band, with a focus on ‘dark’, which is otherwise almost non-existent in a pop-heavy Japanese shoegaze scene. Indeed the first batch of singles released from UK-based So I Buried Records included “hebi”, a track more tonally akin to A Place To Bury Strangers than anything in the pop spectrum. Whereas “hebi” and the album’s title track highlight a face-melting first half of the album, the Shizuoka four-piece also tones it down a bit on the latter half with tracks like “M-S” in which they veer into the avant garde with a quiet 10-minute exploration evolving into periodic outbursts. Whether by employing fuzzy bass and droning guitars or tripped out cavernous delay over a minimal backdrop, The Piqnic’s most redeeming quality is their ability to create intense songs. (buy it here)

3. Sourin – Sourin

Composer Tomoya Matsuura is perhaps best-known by music fans as the frontman of Osaka shoegaze unit Monocism, but he’s also an accomplished and award-winning photographer and 3D artist as well. His portfolio is largely focused on nature and similar themes have carried over into his current musical project Sourin. The album is a non stop flurry of guitar and vocal textures layered over each other again and again in a way that creates a sense of chaotic beauty. Highly recommended for fans of Sigur Ros. (buy it here)

2. Cactus Flower – Really Happy To See You

So Cactus Flower may not consider themselves a “shoegaze band” as much as an alternative band with some shoegaze influence, but the effect the genre has had on their sound resulted in one of the best shoegaze albums of the year. There’s a sense of heart wrenching nostalgia layered over with non-stop guitar noise and sweet melodies that should especially appeal to fans of Ride. There isn’t a weak point on Really Happy To See You, making it one of the most complete and enjoyable releases of the year. (buy it here)

1. Suichuu Zukan – 198X (Rallye Label)

Maybe better described as an alt rock album with shoegaze sensibilities, the band’s devotion to thick textures and wall-ish guitar noise – and the fact that it’s the best album I’ve heard this year – not only qualifies 198X for this list but has it seated right at the top. Suichuu Zukan’s first EP was great, their single last year was great, and this album is better than both of them. The tone of the guitars and the mastery with which they’re woven around a wide range of song styles over the course of the album is the main reason there’s no release I’ve enjoyed more this year. Add to that the fact that the Tokyo foursome (a fivesome until as recently as a couple months ago) does the male-female twin vocal thing better than anyone else. The band’s sound has a distinctly Japanese feel to it with a nod to 70s era kayou-kyoku on “櫻の園” and the minimalist chant-turned-psych-turned-post rock explosion of “シーン”. 198X is a showcase of some brilliant songwriting and its place atop my list is a no-brainer. (buy it here)

Well the first month of 2015 has come and gone and I’m finally getting around to my first post of the year regarding Japanese shoegaze. I thought 2014 was a pretty good year in terms of releases, especially from the indie sector of the shoegaze scene, white some of the country’s heavy hitters also put out some solid new material. Every year I comment on how shoegaze is continuing to grow here in Japan, but in 2014 the development was especially marked with the number of local bands releasing material and getting their music out there by means of digital releases. Unassuming upstart net label Kiiro Records in particular played a major role in spreading the word about the country’s shoegaze scene and even the somewhat out of touch, but nevertheless influential, Japan Shoegazer Festival took applications for young bands interested in getting on the bill. What impact any of this has had on the scene’s progress from here on out remains to be seen, and with that in mind here are some of the story lines to keep an eye out for in 2015:

Well the first month of 2015 has come and gone and I’m finally getting around to my first post of the year regarding Japanese shoegaze. I thought 2014 was a pretty good year in terms of releases, especially from the indie sector of the shoegaze scene, white some of the country’s heavy hitters also put out some solid new material. Every year I comment on how shoegaze is continuing to grow here in Japan, but in 2014 the development was especially marked with the number of local bands releasing material and getting their music out there by means of digital releases. Unassuming upstart net label Kiiro Records in particular played a major role in spreading the word about the country’s shoegaze scene and even the somewhat out of touch, but nevertheless influential, Japan Shoegazer Festival took applications for young bands interested in getting on the bill. What impact any of this has had on the scene’s progress from here on out remains to be seen, and with that in mind here are some of the story lines to keep an eye out for in 2015:

1. Bands to watch out for in 2015…

Last weekend I headed up to Tokyo for the monthly Total Feedback event at Koenji High, the unofficial home of shoegaze music in Tokyo as far as venues are concerned. The main attractions were Cruyff in the Bedroom and dive, but the rest of the card was loaded with really impressive young artists. The opening act in particular is one that I’ve had my eye on for some time and had really been looking forward to seeing live: YUKINO CHAOS. Originally started as a solo project by the band’s frontman Sickboy, YUKINO CHAOS started gigging last summer and have been getting some attention by way of a bunch of demo tracks uploaded to YouTube. Total Feedback was no doubt their biggest gig to date and they did not disappoint at all, blending screaming guitars, catchy vocal melodies, and an obvious 90s alt rock influence. Their debut album should be out at some point in March.

From Tokyo to Osaka we go, and one band that really caught my attention is Whisper Voice Riot. When I say they caught my attention it really means they have a song on their Soundcloud page that I really dug, but that’s a start! The band, whose members are all high schoolers, have been praised by some of their fellow Osaka musicians, uploaded their first track “Stargaze” in January and are aiming to release a debut EP some time in the spring.

Staying in the Kansai area, this time in Kyoto, AOQ (pronounced “Aoku”) is a band that has been on a steady rise over the last couple years but hasn’t completely gotten going, fumbling through lineup changes and even once stopping band activities altogether for a short period of time. Last year, however, AOQ settled on a new lineup and took to the stage, appearing at the Osaka leg of the Japan Shoegazer Festival where they really were impressive. Lots of energy on stage, catchy pop melodies, and all the bending, reverb-soaked guitars you could ask for. We’ll see if they can keep moving forward in 2015, and perhaps get together an EP or something.

This gem courtesy of Tokyo indie-rock/dreampop outfit Youthmemory was brought to my attention this week, and in very timely fashion as they are getting ready to release their debut EP Dreamin‘ on February 7th. The 4-track EP will be available for purchase on Bandcamp, and later in the month the band will start selling physical copies with a bonus track at their gigs.

2. Releases to look forward to in 2015.

Maybe the best moment at the Total Feedback event was when Dive frontman Takaharu Sasaoka announced to the audience that they are planning on releasing new music at some point this year. Until further notice that will be the most anticipated upcoming release of 2015. Not to be ignored however is new music from My Dead Girlfriend, who are in the process of recording their new album.

The band responsible for the best Japanese shoegaze EP in 2014, magic love has also promised us some new tunes. Their first mini album was originally slated for the end of the year, but got pushed back, and there’s no real timetable regarding the release as of right now.

Finally, Nagoya’s Tokenai Namae, who also appeared at the January Total Feedback, have been working hard on their debut full-length for which the kayou-kyoku shoegazers are targeting a summer release. A victim of mediocre recording quality thus far, a properly produced album will hopefully be able to show folks why they’ve been steadily gaining a following throughout Japan over the last couple years.

3. Who will build off an impressive 2014?

Last year’s releases were highlighted by impressive debuts and emphatic comebacks. Juvenile Juvenile just wrapped up the release tour in support of their first full-length Our Great Escape – and my personal favorite album of the year – so that is one band whose progress I’ll be watching eagerly this year. Oeil returned to action in 2014 with their first EP in 7 yearsand also toured alongside Aerofall and Vibragun on their Japanese tour last fall. Urban Twilight left people wanting more and with Myrtle Oeil came through in a big way. Hopefully we won’t have to wait long for some more new material…or maybe a debut album?

The aforementioned magic love made a comeback in 2014 as well, though not as dramatic as that of Oeil. After roughtly a three year hiatus that began after the release of their debut EP, they got back around to gigging and released another killer 3-track EP. We know there’s new music on the way, but will it be as good as the Dawn EP? We’ll find that out soon.

Kiiro records, as mentioned above, was one of the big stories of the year. The three shoegaze comps organized by the net label aside, in its first year kiiro put out an astounding number of albums (all available for free on Bandcamp). It will be interesting to see if the upstart label, which is essentially run by one person, can maintain the heavy workload and if perhaps its catalog will start to include more and more shoegaze releases.

4. Happy 5th Anniversary!

The Japan Shoegazer Festival turns five this year, and though the details aren’t really out there yet, we do know that the Tokyo leg of the event is being planned. Last year was the biggest year for the festival to date, and with this being the fifth anniversary it will be interesting to see if the growth continues into 2015 and beyond. While not necessarily the most representative shoegaze event in Japan (Total Feedback does a much better job of showcasing young shoegaze bands), it is the biggest, and a lot of good bands to find their way onto the stage. The recent efforts to infuse the lineup with up and coming talent have been encouraging.

5. Will shoegaze continue to grow outside of Tokyo and Osaka?

Tokyo basically has a stranglehold on most of Japan’s musical talent, especially when it comes to shoegaze. Due to the city’s sheer size this is really no surprise, and Koenji HIGH hosts a ton of worthwhile shoegaze events. In Osaka as well you can find some great new bands at the frequently held High Fader Night at Kitahorie’s club vijion. Cities like Fukuoka and Nagoya have their fair share of musical history and impressive scenes themselves, but as far as shoegaze is concerned Tokyo and Osaka are where the events are to be found.

In 2013, Masashi Imanishi brought the Japan Shoegazer Festival to Nagoya and it was a big success, selling out the venue and prompting a second event later that year. Sadly the second time around wasn’t as great and there’s been no sign of a return since. Locally, the Day In Day Out event occasionally features shoegaze bands (most recently Juvenile Juvenile appeared), but there’s usually a huge mix of sounds on the bill. Bands like Tokenai Namae, Aysula, miiia, mishca, and me in grasshopper might be the start of a growing Nagoya shoegaze scene but whether it will continue to grow or not in a city dominated by punk rock, rockabilly, and metal remains to be seen.

Kyoto is also a candidate for a third shoegaze city in Japan, with its third Kyoto Shoegaze event on the horizon. The two-day festival will once again be held at Annie’s Cafe, and last year had a huge lineup featuring the likes of cruyff in the bedroom, cigarette in your bed, and MASH. The only thing lacking on the back end of the card was a good amount of local talent. As the June dates approach we will see what bands await shoegaze fans in Kyoto.

Tokyo’s Cigarette in your Bed have announced that their debut full-length album “Darkness” will be released this coming May via High Fader Records (Lemon’s Chair, Sugardrop, Yellow Loveless). The trio, who frequently feature at the Japan Shoegazer Festival have been gigging regularly since the new year in addition to working on their upcoming release. In March they will be taking the stage at Lemon’s Chair’s record release show at Tokyo’s Koenji High.

Cigarette in your Bed are a treat live, always putting on a powerful and entertaining show en route to establishing themselves as one of Japan’s more impressive shoegaze acts. To date they have released a handful of EPs which are made available at gigs. Until now, it’s been difficult to hear their music online outside of recorded live footage, so the upcoming album should be much anticipated for fans of Japanese shoegaze music.